Brine mixing apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for use with a water softening system including an outer bucket, an inner container having a first end, and a plug, where the plug is received within the first end of the inner container for supporting the inner container and allowing brine to be retained within the inner container. A plurality of apertures extend around a periphery of the plug for providing access between the inner container and the outer bucket. An agitator is positioned within the plug for agitating water retained within the outer bucket. The agitation of the water in the outer bucket causes the water to flow through the plurality of recesses to contact the brine forming a mixture able to improve the operation of the water softening system.

1. An apparatus for with a water softening system, the apparatus comprising:
 a. an inner container having at first and second ends and an outer bucket having a closed end and an open end; 
 b. a plug received within said first end of said inner container for supporting said inner container within said outer bucket and allowing brine to be retained within said inner container; 
 c. a plurality of apertures extending around a periphery of said plug for providing access between said inner container and the outer bucket; 
 d. a stanchion having a transverse throughbore extending through a wall thereof and having a base for supporting the stanchion within the outer bucket; 
 e. said stanchion including a plurality of threads extending around an outer perimeter thereof and said plug including a central aperture having a thread extending around an inner periphery thereof for rotatively connecting said plug to said stanchion; and 
 f. an agitator positioned within said plug for agitating water retained within the outer bucket, wherein agitating the water in the outer bucket causes the water to flow through said plurality of apertures to contact said brine forming a mixture able to improve the operation of the water softening system. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said plug is at least one of bell-shaped, and conical; and an end of said plug extends within said inner container. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said agitator is an aerator for introducing air into the water within said outer bucket. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said aerator comprises:
 a. a pump connected on an external surface of the outer bucket; 
 b. a tube connected between said pump and said plug, wherein said pump causes air to be provided through said tube and further through said plug for introducing said air into the water within the outer bucket. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said agitator comprises a pump and a tube connected between said pump and said stanchion for introducing air into the water within the outer bucket via said transverse throughbore in said stanchion. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said plug further comprises a plurality of apertures extending therethrough for providing additional access to said brine in said inner container. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said inner cylinder is able to expose only a predetermined amount of brine to the water within the outer bucket thereby not over-saturating the water with said brine. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a position of said plug along a length of said stanchion is selectively adjustable via said threads. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said brine retained within said container is at least one of a salt compound and a potassium-based compound. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein upon agitation of the water in outer bucket prevents crystallization of at least one of salt and potassium of said brine mixture. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein upon agitation of the water in the outer bucket prevents formation of a brine slurry. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said improvement in operation occurs during a regeneration procedure performed by the water softening system. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein upon said mixture being moved over resin beads having hard ions attached thereto, said mixture causes said hard ions to be removed from said resin beads to allow for said beads to continually soft water within the system.